Since last Friday, Wanna One's mysterious comeback teasers have hinted at themes of "The Origin of Love", "The Origin of our Destiny", and more. Many onlookers seemed to have been reminded of concepts from the musical/film 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch', and brought this to the attention of John Cameron Mitchell - who co-wrote the script for the original 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' and also took on the original lead acting role.

After seeing Wanna One's teaser content released so far, John Cameron Mitchell shared a commentary video on his Instagram, writing, "Thoughts about Kpop band [Wanna One]'s use of #hedwigandtheangryinch/Platonic/Taoist imagery as well as [Stephen Trask]'s song title #theoriginoflove. An ancient myth is fair game but I'm sad to think that it might be flattened and simplified (like my face in this video)."

In the commentary clip, Mitchell shared, "...I'm a little bit bummed out today, because some Korean fans told me about a Korean K-Pop band... who were kind of using some imagery that... granted, has ancient roots, but felt a little bit rude, because they're also borrowing the title 'The Origin of Love' from Stephen Trask's [song] for an album coming out in November. And it felt like it was not telling the full story of the myth, the 2,500-year old myth which was about all genders and all sexualities breaking the powers of gods, of the people telling you what to do and who to love, and finding their own love."

Check out John Cameron Mitchell's Instagram post, expressing his opinions on Wanna One's teaser concept and imagery. Meanwhile, Wanna One are set to make their final comeback as a project group this November 19.

Well, it's not the 1st time they have "borrow so flagrantly". Feeling bad for him.

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veronicavivian21 days ago 2

21 days ago

Since AKP is not going to translate this. Swing statement:"The symbol was created based off of the original philosophical story by Plato and we used the symbol along with the elements of destiny, binary, and infinity. We respect the ideas of John Cameron Mitchell who has popularized The Origin of Love with the symbol through 'Hedwig And The Angry Inch', and we understand that the original philosophical ideology can be understood in a variety of meanings." Trans @balloon_wanted

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hiroonakamura20 days ago 0

20 days ago

if only they had s tuck to that part and not included the song title....which has nothing to do with the myth but everything to do with his work

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T_Jazz20 days ago 0

20 days ago

.

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transparent21 days ago 0

21 days ago

Is this considered mythological appropriation? im joking

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crowboy21 days ago 4

21 days ago

e. what i'm saying is that copying pop culture isn't okay (borrowing or being inspired is). BUT. being inspired from a myth is different; you don't have to include every minor detail and go into depth about that myth.

Although I'm unsure to what extent they've "borrowed" or been inspired for this comeback, I think the fact that "they're not fully explaining the myth" isn't super important. That would be RETELLING the myth. I'd rather their song and the imagery of it isn't simply retelling another story but instead inspired by one.

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jokerfish21 days ago 3

21 days ago

He's just stating his feelings. Getting the myth right is super important to him, he clearly cares deeply about it hence writing and staring in the play. All he's saying it that he's heard about it and not excited about it. It's no different then a Harry Potter fan pointing out DIAs Mr Potter was an attempt to make money off the back of Harry Potter name without actually playing any homage to the real narrative while desperately trying to avoid a warner brothers lawsuit.

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crowboy21 days ago 2

21 days ago

Yes, that's why I was giving my opinion too as a fan. Whether a myth has been told entirely correctly is unimportant if the final product has been INSPIRED by the myth, rather than posing as a retelling of the myth. Although there was nothing incorrect about Wanna One's portrayal in the first place.

That's why I didn't comment on what they've used from "Hedwig and the Angry Inch". Borrowing from pop culture can be done in such a way that isn't stealing, but borrowing from a myth? Retelling a myth? Being loosely inspired from a myth? That is all fine. And I don't think, if you're inspired by certain themes from a certain myth, that it is anything wrong. You don't have to include every minor detail, particularly when it is a song that is being released rather than a novel.

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engelinfrei20 days ago 0

20 days ago

I am a huge fan of Wanna One, and am sad they are implicated in this mess. That being said, in his most recent IG post JCM mentions how the term "Origin of Love" isn't in the original myth but included in the song written by Stephen Trask, meaning, that whoever came up with the concept didn't even do their homework, and just copied off of H&TI, imagery and all. The myth is from one culture, Taoism comes from another, but 'somehow' they managed to end up on Wanna One's album, just like JCM used in his film (which if you haven't seen yet, please watch it, I recommend it to everyone I know). I wouldn't even mind if the company says they were inspired by the film, and/or the musical shows, but they are sticking to their story that they were inspired my the myth. Like, come on! Being a fan of Wanna One (or any kpop group/soloist for that matter) doesn't mean I have to believe the lies their company is putting out, just for the sake of an easy buck.

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aloemist20 days ago 2

20 days ago

Im so confused when it comes to Wanna One because they are so popular and have a huge fanbase, so they don't really need to use other people's ideas to promote themselves. I know that they have such small amount of time to cram all of the cool concepts and songs within 2 years, but im sure that they can come up with something original (the company) especially with having a member that produces songs (daehwi?). Like Im no hater of Wanna One AT ALL, just have my own faves, but it seems that whenever they are in a controversy, its about using something others have already done (SEVENTEEN, ASTRO, ETC). Like, their fans are going to enjoy whatever they release, why copy? Like idk about this specific case, im sure that it'll probably work out because the guy called them out for it, but so have fans of other groups for years yet no feedback? I do not mean offense to the W1 members, but more toward the companies they are affiliated with. Like they changed companies, why do they still have this problem? I highly doubt there is some sort of evil mastermind in the group whose like "YES lets steal EVERYTHING" like ?

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fantasticlau20 days ago 1

20 days ago

It's not because of the group it's because of the company. The boys have to do whatever the company tells them to do and the company always creates this mess and somehow the boys get all the blame.

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aloemist20 days ago 0

20 days ago

yeah its just unfortunate because W1 has such potential but it gets thrown to waste because their company wants to make money by stealing concepts

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Kuma11720 days ago 0

20 days ago

He posted again clarifying that he didn't accuse anyone of copyright infringement

Well this has happened for the umteenth time so i’m guessing their team really dgaf and have no originality

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myma21 days ago 1

21 days ago

First of all, I am going to presume that very few of the other commentators have actually seen Hedwig, based upon the vapidness of the comments. ("wha, I mean its just a myth")

Second, if Wanna One actually hew close to the story by Plato, that would be hella progressive for a country that can hardly cope with idols dating. Much less that that story is how the children of the sun (sun!) and the earth and the moon are the perfectly natural and ordinary origins of hetero- and homo-sexuality.

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myma20 days ago 0

20 days ago

And by the way, the descendents of the sun in this story become the homosexual men. The earth become the lesbians, and the moon become the heterosexuals.

So let's wait and see if Wanna One present it that way.

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Lovemida21 days ago 0

21 days ago

Strange that this guy said Wanna One borrowing concept from him when the original fable of Origin of Love was taken from Plato’s Symposium. This thought/philosophy/ concept has been used in many movies, books, thesis etc in many languages before this guy’s work. This guy surely cannot be thick-skinned enough to claim he is the patent of this concept. Likewise, didnt he also borrow the concept of “Yin and Yang” which was originated from Taoism? Likewise many too have used it too. Did they told this guy he was copying them too? What an idiot. And those fans who informed him too

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magumi7920 days ago 0

20 days ago

Just here to wait for Wannaone's comeback nothing more. No need to dwell on drama that is probably created by someone who really does not like wannaone.

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T_Jazz20 days ago 0

20 days ago

Appropriation gets a little tougher to get away with once you step on that international stage.

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thealigirl820 days ago 0

20 days ago

i mean, if they used the imagery without paying then they need to change it now that they've been caught

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teleri21 days ago 0

21 days ago

John Cameron Mitchell does not own the copyright on Plato nor on Taoism just because he borrowed from them in Hedwig. So this is a moot point.

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Indri_hapsari21 days ago 0

21 days ago

bcoz ymc entertainment full of stupid people who only likes money...dont ever expected somethin brilliant theory from them like bts.. they just want the baby..n u can see none of wanna1 members is givin a fuck bout it...iam glad they will disband soon..they makes kpop cheaper

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boulderCO20 days ago 0

20 days ago

Korean pop culture 'borrows' all the time - yet if anyone borrows from them they flip out.

all sides need to respect the work of others and ASK FIRST! this includes Disney KOREA!

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Mad_Max20 days ago 0

20 days ago

If at least we had more openly assumed gay idols...

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Marybis20 days ago 0

20 days ago

Does he know how many songs have the same title name? ... that's dumb

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eveeLin21 days ago 0

21 days ago

But it's not their fault tho? I mean I get it but still the person who thought of the idea is responsible in my opinion.

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bangeryun9421 days ago 0

21 days ago

Yikes!

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manongja21 days ago 0

21 days ago

I am disappointed that a lowly boy band is not copying the way I did so artfully. That’s Hollywood for you.

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Ah_Chuu21 days ago 0

21 days ago

He mostly seems bothered that they aren't going to ~execute the myth~ properly... a belief based on what? That it's a group made up of good-looking boys? That it's Kpop? Funny how the people who one would think have the most reason to be anti-prejudice and prejudging are the ones who act most prejudiced and jump to judge too quickly.

At least wait until they get a chance to release a bloody song before having a whinge...

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veronicavivian21 days ago 6

21 days ago

I'm not fully getting what the problem is, because so far we don't know the name of ANY song yet. And the album has a different name. If someone can explain exactly what this guy thinks Wanna One is "borrowing", I would appreciate it.

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sm123421 days ago 5

21 days ago

I think his main problem is in the movie there is an animation that plays as they are singing 'the origin of love' the animation is in Taoist style and whoever has made the concept for this comeback have taken the song name and animation style and will water down the meaning of the song

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veronicavivian21 days ago 4

21 days ago

Okay, but the song name wasn't taken because like I said, no one knows the names for any of the songs yet. "The Origin of Love" is based on the same myth I guess, but he doesn't own that myth. Wanna One also didn't have any animation out when he posted this video. And as for interpretation...well anyone can interpret a myth however they want.